Chapter Text
"It took about a century, but eventually suspicion gave way to a grudging tolerance, then finally full acceptance and friendship. And of course now Aaarrrggghh! can go wherever he pleases, with or without me."
It had taken over two hours for the tale to finally wind its way to its conclusion. Through all this Jim had sat perfectly still aside from blinking and breathing, utterly transfixed by the tale.
"It was during this time as well that the Daylight Army scattered back into its respective tribes and groups, for those of us that were intermingled, and either returned home or began seeking out a new home as Gunmar's birth had destroyed our old Heartstone, many bearing pieces of Killahead Bridge to conceal or otherwise 'lose' along the way. Kanjigar, Aaarrrggghh!, and I continued to follow Daya, as did many of us. Eventually we stowed away on board a ship bound for a 'new land' and once here by what I can only call a miracle found a new, suitable Heartstone under what would eventually become Arcadia Oaks.
"It is also during this time that I worked with Aaarrrggghh! to improve his Gunmar-hindered grasp of first Trollish, then human English, as it was common practice even then for us to know both languages. Practical really, when you consider that we needed to understand when a human was speaking nearby while we were foraging and scavenging for our own safety. Trollish came easily, though I admit English had been a bit more of a challenge, until we meet you, Tobias, and Claire. It's had improved considerably since.
"Soon after arriving here we finally made contact with a tribe of Krubera, as they had all but vanished from our old territories soon after the war began. After several messages were exchanged three Krubera came to us and brought answers, telling of the raid and their stolen young." Blinky sighed. "There were thirty-four taken, and as interconnected as they are they felt thirty-three lose their lives; Aaarrrggghh! was the sole one to survive Gunmar's cruelty. I think he had to not only be the strongest to do this, but adapt greatly to a life no Krubera had needed to live in before. This would explain his differing posture, how unlike others of his tribe his marks won't glow unless he taps into his Gumm-Gumm battle training, making them turn green, or another Krubera draws it out of him, turning them purple, and the fur on his head, neck, and shoulders as well as his beard. I know you haven't had as much contact with the Krubera, but by comparison Aaarrrggghh! has a considerably higher body temperature. They typically don't have to deal with the cooler temperatures that those of us who live closer to the surface do, so it's quite likely his core temperature rose and he grew fur in an attempt to stay warm.
"They also identified him by his Trollish name, Aarghaumont." Blinky looked thoughtful for a moment. "This is speculation on my part for Aaarrrggghh! can't say one way or the other, but I believe that his choosing the name Aaarrrggghh! was in a way his trying to reconcile childish memories of his actually name - Aarghaumont- with a 'word' that seemed to be used to address him - Aaarrrggghh!. Both words start very similar to one another.
"They offered to take him back to the deep caverns with them, but Daya advised that until we were certain any training Gunmar forced upon him was fully under his control he should remain with us, and her word carried such weight that it was agreed. In truth I think Daya understood that Aaarrrggghh wasn't yet comfortable enough with himself to go with them, and if I am honest I did not want him to go either." Blinky sighed, frowning slightly at himself. "Those years right after the Battle of Killahead Bridge weren't easy for me, as I finally was able to mourn for Dictatious and progress through my grief. Having Aaarrrggghh to focus on provided a distraction when I needed it, and his company kept me from feeling quite so lonely.
"Though eventually Aaarrrggghh was trusted fully, we were quite used to each other's company, quirks, and behaviors, and habit bred familiarity. It wasn't until Kanjigar himself, now the Trollhunter, pointed out that Aaarrrggghh was in fact no longer my custody that either of us realized we were still behaving as if he was. It was a rather funny realization, but as neither of us minded and considered each other to be a very close friend we simply have kept things as they were, and that is how they have remained to the present day." Jim was silent for a moment, eyes a bit wide, then finally found his voice.
"Whoa... I mean, Toby told me how you said if it wasn't for Aaarrrggghh things might be different now but I seriously had no idea!" Blinky chuckled.
"Yes, there's only about a handful of us that know just how much he's done, but I don't feel Aaarrrggghh wants any accolades for what he did. He's said as much in the past, to me at least. Having this - safety, peace, a home - makes him very happy." Jim nodded as he took this in, then grinned.
"So Aaarrrggghh's the one who gave you the nickname 'Blinky?'" Again the scholarly Troll laughed.
"Yes. I suppose in hindsight 'Blinky' was much easier to pronounce than 'Blinkous Galadrigal.' Nicknames aren't quite as commonplace as they are among humans, such as you yourself. Though most everyone knows I answer to it, they tend to call me by my proper name. In sure you've noticed that for example Vendel only calls me Blinkous." Jim nodded.
"And Bagdwella does too."
"Even Kanjigar, unless he was teasing me or trying to bring me out of a particularly bleak mood, continued to call me Blinkous until his final day. Only Aaarrrggghh and the three of you call me Blinky regularly." Blinky's lips quirked into a grin. "It was a bit of an impulse to introduce myself as Blinky when we first met, but you seemed considerably alarmed by our appearance - not that I blame you - and I guess I thought it might make the both of us seem less intimidating if I had a more shall we say amusing name." He blinked his eyes in a rolling pattern that got a return grin. Then Jim leaned back in his seat a bit more.
"I just still - it's hard to wrap my head around, you know? All that about Aaarrrggghh fighting and changing sides, and the Battle itself. I read some about it, but hearing it firsthand kinda - makes it more real."
"When I think back on it, I have to confess I feel somewhat daunted by my own memories. Half of the time it scarcely feels real."
"Was very real." The rumbling voice that suddenly came from the doorway startled the pair as Aaarrrggghh entered.
"Aaarrrggghh," Jim greeted a touch sheepishly. "I take it you heard?" The big Troll nodded, a smile never leaving his face add he hunkered down with them. "I hope you're not upset I asked Blinky to tell me."
"No. Better from Blinky. Better storyteller. And you right to know. Trollhunter deserve to know." Jim grinned, glad that Aaarrrggghh was okay with it.
Aaarrrggghh seemed to think for a moment, then stood and made his way over to a high shelf, collecting a small chest from it. It was simple, made of wood and unadorned, but well-cared for.
"It's been a while since either of us have looked at that," Blinky commented as Aaarrrggghh strode over and offered it to Jim. The chest was one that Aaarrrggghh could've easily carried in one hand, yet he used two and treated it as if it was both very valuable and very delicate. Jim accepted it just as carefully and set it in his lap, then opened it at their encouraging nod.
Inside was a few old ceramic beads barely clinging to a bit of thread, some fragments of pottery with faded colors, and a rag doll, so ancient that Jim almost didn't want to breathe on it hard, let alone touch it. He looked at his Troll friends for confirmation, and Blinky nodded.
"I kept my word, and I have never forgotten that little village, even if the world did. Neither of us has. After all, it was that moment that everything changed."
"I'll remember too." Jim reverently closed the lid and handed it back to Aaarrrggghh, who returned the chest to its place. "Thank you both for telling me. And I won't say a word about it to anyone. It's your story to tell, not mine."
"Tell wingman someday, maybe. If asks."
"Somehow I don't think it'll make much of a difference to him, Aaarrrggghh."
"Quite likely right, and it was our pleasure, Master Jim. Now." Blinky stood up. "As we've done some mental training, perhaps some physical is in order." Jim groaned, but he smiled as he did so and stood up, reaching into his back pocket for the amulet. He and Blinky left, but Aaarrrggghh paused as he was about to follow. He looked back towards the chest on the shelf, and as he always did when his eyes happened to fall on it he thought a simple message to the spirit of a young human child whose life was cut far too short, wherever it may rest now.
Thank you.
Then with a smile, Aaarrrggghh stepped with a peaceful heart out into the happy, home-familiar bustle of Trollmarket, following his friends.
Fin